Copying machine

ABSTRACT

An improved copying machine for processing light-desensitizable transfer material and heat sensitive receiving material, comprising an exposure plate with a contact pressure cover, a heating device and a storage and take-up reel each for the band shaped transfer material. The effect of the heat of the heating device on the assembly of sheets comprising transfer and receiving material may be reduced or interrupted downstream of the matter to be transferred.

United States Patent Limberger COPYING MACHINE [72] Inventor: WalterLimberger, Hamburg-Poppenbuttel, Gennany [73] Assignee: LumoprintZindler KG, Hamburg,

Germany 22 Filed: Aug.21,l970

21 App1.No.: 65,922

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 23, 1969 Germany ..P 19 42931.3

[52] US. Cl. ..355/100, 219/216, 355/27 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 27/30 [58]Field of Search ..355/27, 78, 93, 99, 100, 106,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,288,047 11/1966 Limberger..355/100 5] Aug. 15, 1972 Garman ..355/99 3,313,913 4/1967 Limberger..2l9/216 3,234,868 2/1966 Appeldorn et al. ....219/216 X. 3,195,8857/1965 Rowell ..355/100 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews AssistantExaminerFred L. Braun Attorney-McGlew and Toren [57] ABSTRACT Animproved copying machine for processing light-- desensitizable transfermaterial and heat sensitive receiving material, comprising an exposureplate with a contact pressure cover, a heating device and a storage andtake-up ree1 each for the band shaped transfer material. The effect ofthe heat of the heating device on the assembly of sheets comprisingtransfer and receiving material may be reduced or interrupted downstreamof the matter to be transferred,

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PMENTEUAUE 15 m2 3,684.3 72 SHEE? 1 OF 4lawn/0r WALTER LIMBERGE R We {ma 7 0m A ORNEYS PATEHTEBAU: 1 5 I9723.684.372

sum 2 OF 4 //7 wafer WALTER LIMBERGER BYWC W J/f/d TQM/7A A rToR NE/SPATENTEDAUB 1 5 m2 3.684.372

' SHEET 3 [IF 4 WALTER LIMBERGER BY m w mi 701m A TORNEVS PATENTEDMIB 15m2 SHEEI 4 OF 4 Imam/0r WA'LTER LIMQERQER BY cgfl amo 791m ATTORNEYS Theinvention is based on a method such as described for example in U.S.Pat. No. 3,049,417. Here a light sensitive sheet is first desensitizedat points backed by an original by means of reflex exposure and is thenheated in surface contact with asheet of receiving material. Thisproduces thereon a visible reproduction of the original by a reactionbetween the remaining not desensitized elements of the transfer materialand the reactive substances in the surface of the receiving material.

A machine for carrying out this method and described in US. Pat. No.3,318,219 provides the heating device in the form of a surface heaterunder the exposure mechanism. Thus, not only the exposure but also theheating takes place in the stationary state. For this reason a two stepmethod is used, in which the transfer material is provided in the formof a continuous band passing over the exposure plate and through theheating device, whilst the original must be applied to one side of theexposure plate until it rests on the same. Contact pressure is thenaccomplished by means of a contact pressure cover and the exposure takesplace. Then the band of transfer material is transported on until theexposed section is located within the heating device, and simultaneouslya sheet of receiving material is applied, whilst the original haspreviously been detached. Then a contact pressure plate of the heatingdevice is pressed on until the development is complete. After raisingthe contact pressure plate, the original is ejected on one side and thetransfer material is reeled back until the end of the exposed section isat the input edge of the exposure plate. This long return results fromthe fact that together with the application of an unexposed section ofthe transfer material band, the original should also be carried along tothe exposure plate.

This known device operates slowly because it comprises stationaryoperating stages. In addition, the long return of the transfer materialrequires considerable time. If thick originals are to be copied with theknown device, which is not quite easy in view of the feed device for theoriginal, special measures must be taken for raising the contactpressure cover.

The return of the strip shaped transfer material does not produce initselfan acceleration of the processing because excessive losses oftransfer material are to be avoided. If, for example, a transportthrough a heating device were taken into consideration which must affectthe material layers uniformly and for a certain period, this would havethe disadvantage that the heat would also affect as yet unexposedsections of the transfer material, thereby rendering the same useless.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a copying machinewhich has a simpler construction and operates faster. According to thisinvention this object is realized by devices which reduce or prevent theheating device from applying heat to the zone of the assembly of sheetscomprising transfer and receiving material behind graphic matter to bereproduced. Surprisingly, this enables the copying machine to beoperated continuously in the zone of the heat applying device becausethe application of heat may be interrupted although the transfermaterial continues to move.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention .the devices comprise atransport arrangement passing over a convex heating plate and having oneor several conveyor belts passing over at least two rollers and adaptedto be pivoted about a pivot located on the side of an outlet in ordergradually to raise the conveyor belt or belts off the heating plate. Theside of the outlet is remote from the exposure plate. By raising theconveyor arrangement, the contact pressure is simultaneously releasedand it should be noted that the conveyor arrangement is preferably suchthat with contact pressure the transfer material coming from theexposure plate is deflected downwardly. A high raising velocity may beaccomplished by a more or less strong curvature of the heating plate.Owing to the raising, the trailing edge of the contact zone movestowards the side of the outlet of the apparatus. Preferably, theconveyor belt or belts are elastic, or the reversing roller remote fromthe pivot and located in a frame is resiliently mounted in order totension the belts.

In another preferred embodiment, the said devices have a heat shield,pivotable about a pivot and curved concentrically to the pivot, and theheating device is a curved heating plate, the curvature of which is alsoconcentric to the pivot, wherein the heat shield is adapted to be movedfrom the side of the exposure plate over the heating plate and anarrangement of conveyor belts is mounted on the heating device andraisable therefrom, so that the heat shield can be moved between theconveyor arrangement and the heating plate. In this arrangement, theheat shield can accurately lirrrit the effects of the heating device ofthe heating plate.

Preferably the pivot is coaxial to a hollow shaft forming the core forthe take up reel of the transfer material. In this manner, aparticularly favorable compact arrangement may be produced.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the movabletransport device or the heat shield are movable as a function of thepassage of the copy sheet, wherein either the lifting off the heatingplate or the insertion of the leading edge of the heat shield (as viewedduring the screening movement) are controlled in accordance with thetrailing edge of the graphic matter to be transferred. In this manneronly the surface section of the transfer material carrying an exposedreproduction is aflected by the heat, acting on the layer.

In an embodiment in which the strip shaped transfer material is suppliedafter the passage of a copy by the rereeling of the storage reel anduncoupling of the receiving reel, in a convenient embodiment of theinvention the reverse transport of the transfer material is accompaniedby a return movement of the heat shield towards the exposure plate. Thishas the advantage that the exposure device is screened in addition tothe heating device in the non-operating state and that an excessiveheating of the heat shield is avoided. Preferably, the inside of theheat shield is mirror plated. In another embodiment a blower or fan maybe provided for cooling the heat shield in the retracted position. Wherea pivotable transport device is used, the same remains preferably in theraised position after the passage of a copy.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact pressurecover contains a stack holder with a stack of copy sheets adapted to becarried into a guide track as a function of a movement of the cover.This results not only in a surprisingly compact arrangement but has alsothe advantage that the receiving material may be guided immediatelybehind the takeoff end of the exposure plate, thereby substantiallyreducing the re-reeling distances for the transfer material. Anotheradvantage is in the operation because any special manipulationsfor'supplying the receiving material are eliminated.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, for supplying thereceiving material the cover has, in fixed relation to its pivot, adrive wheel for a sheet delivery of the stack holder and a wheel drivenby the main drive and located in the path of the said drive wheel whenthe cover is raised, is mounted on the housing so that the drive wheelmeshes operationally when the cover is raised. In this manner, receivingmaterial is supplied when the cover is raised. In this arrangement it isassumed that during an exposure the contact pressure cover rests in thelower position on the exposure plate, i.e., on the original, whether asheet or a book, and is then raised for withdrawing the original.

Protection against the transport of the receiving material, for example,when inserting the original, is achieved in that the engagement betweenthe wheel and the drive wheel takes place only when the cover is fullyraised. According to an additional feature, the housing is provided witha spring abutment for the raised cover which engages the cover justbefore the drive wheel engages the wheel. This spring abutment providesawarning to the operator and indicates the point up to which the covercan be raised without causing a sheet of copying material to betransported. This transport of copying material is initiated only'byovercoming the force of the spring abutment.

Preferably, the weight of the cover in the raised posi-. tion ispractically unimportant so that the operator does not have to overcomean excessive force for depressing the spring abutment. Drive wheel andwheel may be constructed as gears and may have a certain tooth clearancein order to facilitate-the engagement, because the further steps areinitiated only if the copying material reaches a certain position.Preferably, however, drive wheel and wheel are friction wheels.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a continuously driven pairof transport rollers is mounted downstream of the sheet delivery fortransporting the copying material after the same leaves the stack. Inthis manner, accurately defined actuating conditions are achieved evenif the rollers are driven only for short periods. This embodiment ispreferred because the operator may be instructed to keep the cover inthe raised position against the force of the spring abutment, forexample, only for 2 seconds.

In another preferred embodiment, a contact switch is mounted in the pathof the receiving material and switches on the drive for the take-up reelof the transfer material for a certain time, after which the storagereel may be actuated for a reverse rotation over a certain path as afunction of the standstill of the take-up reel. Also this producesautomatic operation in accordance with the movement of the cover, i.e.,as a function of the feed-in of the copy material; here the release ofthe transport for the transfer material as a function of the advance ofthe copy material is particularly convenient because accuratesynchronization may be achieved without retaining the copy material in acertain ready position outside the stack.

Conveniently, the pivotable transport arrangement and the heat shieldare adapted to be actuated as a function of the operation of the contactswitch through a delay element for lifting or for overlapping theheating plate for a certain period, and wherein the movement can bereversed and the heat shield'retumed in conjunction with the reverserotation of the storage reel. Obviously, a timing control is possible inthis connection only where certain sizes are usedalso for thereproductions. An adaptation is possible by correspondingly varying thetime constants of the timing control. Since the transport arrangementremains preferably in the raised condition after one copy, in anotherpreferred embodiment a movement of the pivotable transport arrangementcan be initiated so as to press on the heating plate after an exposureas a function of the raising movement of the cover; when the contactpressure position has been reached a switch is operated which energizesthe circuit for the motor of the transport arrangement to lift the same,wherein this circuit is preferably controlled by the stop switch. Careshould be taken that the contact pressure position is reachedcomparatively quickly. This is possible without difficulties if the feedof the copy material is released mechanically by the movement of thecover. With operation of the contact by the start of the cover movement,a delay may be included for the transport of the receiving material.

Obviously, the invention may also comprise a switching roller controlwhich may comprise cams arranged around the periphery to determine thetiming in conjunction with a decentralized electric drive or may actuatelinkages or levers of a mechanical control arrangement.

The invention will be further described by way of example with referenceto two embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a machine according to theinvention in cross-section, showing the functionally necessary parts;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of another embodiment of the inventioncorresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrarnmatical partial view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical side elevation of the withdrawing-roller;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view in cross-section of FIG. 4, explaining thedrive elements for the cover movement;

FIG.'6 is a cross-section along the line VI-Vl in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of an actuating circuit.

In all Figures, identical parts are marked with the same referencenumerals.

The machines shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise a housing 1 with anexposure plate 2 arranged on top above a chamber 3 containing exposurelight sources 4. On the left edge of the exposure plate 2 (as viewed inthe drawing), a contact pressure cover 5 is hingemounted; this contactcover 5 is shown in both Figures in the raised position. Its base has aresilient contact pressure plate 6, which may be supported by springmeans and can adapt itself to an original. The cover is hollow andcontains a stack holder with a stack 7 of copy sheets. The stack ismounted on a plate 90 which is hinge-mounted at 91. The other end of theplate is pressed upwardly by a spring 92, thereby pressing the top sheetagainst abutments 93 provided only at the corners.

In the zone of the pivots 8 of the cover, located on both sides of thehousing (see also FIG. 5) and positioned near the forward upper end ofthe stack 7, a

withdrawing roller 10, pivotable about a swivel arm rests underresilient pressure on the stack, so that the contact pressure is thesame irrespective of the inclination of the cover. The pivot axis 8 ismounted on lateral raised plates 63 of the machine, as shown in detailin FIG. 5. These plates are not shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity.

On the side ofthe exposure chamber 3 remote from the pivot 8, a storagereel 11 for a web of transfer material is mounted rotatably about ashaft 94. This reel is connected with drive means, not shown in detail,which can be uncoupled, or may cause after their deactivation a slightbraking of the storage reel 11 in the direction opposite to its drivenrotation. Thestorage reel is driven in a clockwise direction.

Preferably the storage reel is associated with a pair of guide rollers,12, 13, driven by the main drive of the apparatus; these rollers aremounted in the housing and carry the transfer material to the exposureplate 2.

On the other side of the chamber 3 receiving roller 14 for the transfermaterial is mounted rotatably about a shaft 95. Also here, drive andcoupling means are provided which drive the roller 14 preferably in anan ticlockwise direction and entrain the transfer material. Also in thiscase the drive means have preferably a slight braking action in theopposite direction when they are switched off.

In the adjacent housing wall 96 there is a delivery slot 15 next towhich is a collecting trough 16 for the developed copy.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 in which the cover located on theexposure plate 2 is shown at 5 and indicated by broken lines. Anupwardly convex curved heating device in the form of a heating plate 17is mounted substantially above the roller 14; the length of the heatingplate 17 is sufficient to affect the material passing the same for asufficiently long period of time, having regard to its speed. Theheating plate 17 is firmly mounted in the housing 1.

The arcuate heating plate 17 is associated with a transport devicecomprising two reversing rollers 18, 19 over which pass one or severalconveyor belts 20. The reversing roller 18, located on the outlet sideof the machine, has a quill shaft 21 through which it may be rotated bymeans of a drive motor 22 (FIG. 3). The quill shaft contains a rotaryshaft 23 on which is mounted a pivoting arm or frame 24 on the ends ofwhich the reversing roller 19 is mounted, for example, in slots 25 underbias by springs 86 away from the reversing roller 18, so that theconveyor belt 20 are always under tension. Thus, the reversing roller 19can be pivoted by the frame 24 as indicated by the arrow 26 in FIG. 1,thereby lifting the conveyor belts 20 off the heating plate. To this endthe shaft 23 may carry a pinion 27 (FIG. 3) which meshes with thegearing of a gear motor 28 or, .as shown in FIG. 1, a lifting mechanism97 with a rack 29 and a gear drive 30 may act on the end of thepivotable part of the frame. The gear drive has a motor 98 driving viagears 99 a pinion 100 which meshes with the rack 29.

Owing to the curvature of the heating plate, when the transportarrangement 18-20, 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow 26, theconveyor belts are gradually lifted off the end of the heating platefacing the exposure plate 2.

Behind the pivot 8 of the cover, there is mounted in the housing of themachine at least one continuously driven pair of transport rollers,comprising rollers 31, 32 which receive the copy material from thewithdrawing roller 10. This pair of transport rollers may be preceded bya further pair of transport rollers 34, 35 mounted on the cover in frontof the stack holder and behind an inlet guide element 33 and a contactswitch 36 is located between the two pairs of transport rollers 4 and isactuated by the leading edge of the copying sheet supplied from thestack 7. The guide and transport roller 12, 13, 31, 32 define with theiruniform diameters the transport speed of the materials, includingparticularly also the transport material because an exclusive control bymeans of rollers 11 and 14 would require additional control elements inview of their varying diameters, e.g., by circumferential scanning.

The web shaped transfer material 37 is supplied from the storage reel 11over the exposure plate 2 via the pair of transport rollers 31, 32 tothe roller 14 in such a manner that it does not affect the contactswitch 36.

When, as described further below, the cover is raised by means of thehandle 38 after an exposure, the copy material is guided from the stack7 between the transport rollers 34, 35, 31, 32, and causes the contactswitch 36 to be actuated. In this manner, the drive motor for the pairsof rollers 31, 32, and 12, 13 is switched on so that the leading edge ofthe copying material is applied with the leading edge of the exposedsection of the transfer material and the assembly comprising thetransfer material and the copy material is carried under the conveyorbelts 20 along the heating plate. When the trailing edge of the sheet ofcopy material reaches the reversing roller 19 (FIG. 1), the passage ofthis edge over the heating plate causes the start of the liftingmovement of the transport arrangement 18-20, 24 in the direction of thearrow 26 so that no unexposed part of the transfer material is heated.The transport continues until the copy sheet has been deposited in thetrough 16, then the drive of the roller 14 and of the pairs of rollers31, 32 and 12, 13 is reversed and that of the storage reel 11 isswitched on until the exposed edge of the trailing section of thetransfer material has passed the left hand edge of the exposure plate 2as viewed in FIG. 1. Then the drive for the rollers 31, 32, 12, 13 andstorage reel 11 is automatically switched off. The working stokes may becarried out under timing control'for different sizes of reproductions inthe manner just explained. Details will be explained further below withreference to a control arrangement shown in FIG. 7. It should bementioned that it is important to operate the withdrawing roller 10 onlyafter making an exposure.

As shown in FIG. 2, a heating device in the shape of a heating plate 39is arranged concentrically to the core of the take-up reel 14constructed as a quill shaft 101. This quill shaft which is mounted inthe housing carries a rotary shaft 40 for lateral sectors 41. Thesesectors carry a heat shield 42 adapted to be moved in the direction ofthe arrow 43 in a reciprocating manner. This may be carried out forexample by means of a pinion mounted adjacent to the quill shaft on therotary shaft 40 and meshing with a rack drive. The heat shield 42 has acurvature which is also concentric to the shaft 40 but so spacedtherefrom that it can be pivoted to cover the outside of the heatingplate 39. The outside is provided with an arrangement of threetransportrollers 44, 45, 46, mounted in the housing and supporting conveyor belts47. The transport roller 45 may be driven in a clockwise directionwhilst the rollers 44, 46 are resiliently held in contact by means ofsprings 48, 49. They can lift off when the heat shield 42 is placed inposition between the transport arrangement and the heating plate.

Instead of the lifting of the transport arrangement 18-20, 24 describedwith reference to FIG. 1, in FIG. 2

the left edge of the heat shield 42 follows the trailing edge of thecopy sheet and prevents thereby the heat from affecting unexposedtransfer material. In this con struction the heat shield 42 is returnedto its starting position during the reverse transport of the transfermaterial 37, to prevent unnecessary heating.

In the arrangement of FIG. 2 a continuously driven pair of transportrollers 50, 51 is mounted, for example, pivotably on the cover. A guideelement 52 located on the cover behind this pair of rollers carries acontact switch 53 adapted to be actuated by the-leading edge of a copysheet coming from the stack 7 for control purposes.

A particularly simple system for supplying the copy sheet material isshown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6 and may also be used for the F IG. 2arrangement. The withdrawing roller 10 is'connected, e.g., by a beltdrive, with a drive wheel 56 mounted on one side in the cover, asindicated in FIG. 1. The housing 1 contains a wheel 57 continuouslydriven by the main drive and located in the path of the drive wheel 56moved with the cover 5, so that it engages the drive wheel 56 when thecover is fully raised. This causes the withdrawing roller to be operatedwhen the cover is raised to transport a sheet of copy material from thestack 7.

Furthermore, one side of the cover has an abutment with spring 58 whichmakes contact with an abutment 59 of the cover just before engagementbetween the wheels 56 and 57 is established; preferably both thesewheels are friction wheels.

The operator has to hold the cover 5 only for a short time in the fullyraised position, overcoming the resistance of the spring 58, until theleading edge of the copy sheet enters between the transport rollers 34,35. In view of the compact construction this only takes a fraction of asecond.

The drive wheel 56 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is associated with apulley 60 mounted on the same shaft 102 and connected by a belt 61 witha further pulley 62 mounted on a shaft 54 serving simultaneously aspivot for the swing arms 9. The shafts 102 and 54 are mounted in thecover 5, shown only partly in FIGS. 4 and 5. The stack 7 in the cover 5is also shown partly in FIG. 5 and carries the withdrawing roller 10.The swing arms 9 are provided with a gearing 103.

FIGS. 4 and 5 also show the pivot 8 of the cover on one side thereof. Asindicated in FIG. 5 this pivot is only arranged in the zone of sideplates 63 on both sides of the housing and projecting therefrom at thetop. A cover side wall 64 serves simultaneously as mounting plate forthe shaft 102 of the drive wheel 56 and carries an abutment 65 for thespring abutment 66 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5. The abutment 65 maybe located just in front of the pivot 8 of the cover and is inclined tothe upper side of the cover and to the pivotableend of the cover, sothat it encounters the spring abutment substantially vertically when thecover is raised.

It is obvious that the spring abutment may be made adjustable so thatthe operator may adjust both the timing and the strength of theactuation.

The circuit diagram of FIG. 7 has main terminals 71, 72. Behind a mainswitch 106 there is first a circuit 107 with the main motor 108 of themachine to which are connected through gearings 109 continuously drivencomponents, such as pairs of rollers 34, 35, the disk 57 or the pair ofrollers 51, 50. In addition, the exposure device 4 is located betweenthe terminals 71, 72 and is adapted to be switched on by a switch 70.

Contact switch 53, 36 is connected between the current terminals inseries with a delay action relay 73. This relay closes a contact 74 inthe drive circuit 75 for the take-up reel 14. This drive unit alsoactuates other associated drive elements such as the reversing roller18. The delay of the relay 73 is so dimensioned that this drive 75 stopsafter the necessary transport path. At the moment of stopping a contact76 possibly using the switching movement of the delay action relay 73but operating as a function of the stopping of the drive 75, closes acircuit for a further delay action relay 77, the switching contact 78 ofwhich actuates the transport device 79 of the storage reel 11 for thetimed re-reel-' ing. The operating element for the contact 76 is shownat 110. The switching relationship is such that the transition of thedrive 75 from movement to standstill and the opening of the relaycontact 74 collaborate to effect the short duration closure of thecontact 76 to release the transport device 79 which remains switched onin accordance with the timing element of the relay 77.

During this process, in FIG. 1, the transport arrangement 18-20, 24 mustfirst-be lowered from the raised position and then again be raised in acertain relation to the working cycle. To this end, the transport device29, 30 (FIG. 1) or 27, 28 (FIG. 3) or a corresponding drive for theshaft 40 (FIG. 2) are provided which must be reversible. Starting fromthe position of FIG. 1 in which the transport mechanism is first in theraised position, it may be lowered by raising the cover 5. To this end,a switch 80 is provided which is actuated during the lifting of thecover by means of a stop or by acting on its handle 38 so that theswitching arms 81, 82 are positioned in such a manner that the transportmechanism is lowered by means of the motor 28 or 98.

The switch contacts for this drive are indicated by the letter a.

It should be noted that the contact switches 53, 36 are also connectedto a circuit comprising a relay 9 85 with delayed energization andde-energization, the contact 84 of which is located in the circuit 104which also contains the switching arms 81, 82 of the switch 80. Aparallel circuit 106 for the switch contact 84; the switch 107 of thiscircuit is connected by a linkage 108 with the switch 80. Consequently,when, during the raising of the cover the switching arms 81, 82 aremoved into the position a, the bypass circuit 106 is closed'makingpossible the lowering movement of the transport device. The lowestposition of the transport device may be fixed by a limit stop 83 in thezone of the transport device 29, 30 or 27, 28. When contact is made withthis limit stop, the switching arms 81, 82 are switched to the othertransport device and rest on switch contacts b, whilst the circuit 106is open. In this manner, the circuit for the transport device is now,i.e., for the raising, controlled only by the relay 85. The timingelement of the relay 85 is such that the lifting movement of thetransport device starts when the trailing edge of the picture reachesthe reversing roller 19. In this manner, the transport device 27, 28,29, 30 is actuated at the right moment and for the right duration. Whenthe relay 85 has been de-energized and the cover is in the startingposition with the machine inoperative, the transport device 18-20, 24remains first in the top position. For a new working cycle the covermovement moves the switching arms again into contact with the switchcontacts a and closes the circuit 106.

If, as described above, the movement of the cover is also used forcontrolling the transport device 29, 30 or 27, 28, the actuation ispreferably interlocked with the exposure 4. For example, the exposurecircuit may contain a relay 67 with delayed de-energization, the switchcontact 68 of which is connected in series with the circuit. of thecontact switches 36, 53. For example, this contact 68 may also beconnected in series with the other control circuits with the relay 77and the transport device'79.

With regard to FIG. 2, it should be stated that when the cover is firstmoved, nothing happens because the movement of the heat shield 42 takesplace only when the relay 85 is energized. When this relay isde-energized, the drive circuit for the heat shield is automaticallyreversed to return the heat shield. A return circuit, not shown indetail, may be automatically interrupted by a contact switch. Inaddition, this return circuit is automatically switched off in the caseof an exposure to make possible the forward drive of the heat shield 42.

lclaim:

1. An improved copying machine for processing light-desensitizabletransfer material and heat sensitive copying material, comprising ahousing having a delivery slot for delivering the copy, wherein theimprovement comprises an exposure plate on the upper side of the housingon which exposure plate an original may be fitted, a contact pressurecover pivotally mounted on said housing for pressing an original againstsaid exposure plate, a storage reel located within said housing andspaced outwardly from one edge of said exposure plate, a take-up reellocated within said housing and spaced outwardly from said exposureplate on the opposite side thereof from said storage reel, said storagereel and take-up reel arranged to receive the transfer material in theform of a conmovably displaceable means situated within said housingadjacent said plate-shaped heating member, said movably displaceablemeans being arranged for movement relative to said plate-shaped heatingmember as a function of the passage of the transfer and copyingmaterials over said heating member.

2. A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe heating memberis an upwardly convexly curved heating plate over which the transfer andcopying materials are guided and wherein said movably displaceable meanscomprises a transport arrangement positioned above said heating plateand includes a frame containing two rollers arranged so that they reston the opposite edges of said heating plate, at least one elasticconveyor belt passes over these two rollers and the frame has at the endremote fromsaid exposure plate a pivot, and drive means for pivoting theframe about the said pivot, thereby lifting the said at least oneconveyor belt gradually, starting with the edge of the heating platefacing said exposure plate.

3. A copying machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the pivot of thepivoting frame is arranged concentrically to a roller, and the framealso comprises spring means for tensioning the conveyor belt.

4. A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating memberis an upwardly convexly curved heating plate over which the transfer andreceiving materials are guided and said movably displaceable meanscomprising as a moving element a curved heat shield mounted on a shaftlocated in the housing, wherein the curvature of the heat shieldcorresponds to that of the heating plate and the shaft is so arrangedthat the heat shield can .be moved directly above the heating plate, andfurther comprising a transport arrangement associated with the heatingplate and adapted to be elastically lifted thereoff so that the heatshield can be moved between said transport arrangement and said heatingplate.

5. A copying machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein the take-up reelis mounted on a quill shaft through which the said shaft for the heatshield passes coaxially, and wherein the heating plate and the heatshield are curved concentrically to the take-up reel.

6. A copying machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein the inside of theheat shield is mirror-plated.

7. A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first drivemotor is connected to the storage reel and a second drive motor to thetake-up reel and switching means are provided in the circuits of themotors whereby the switching means switch the first and the second drivemotor alternatively so that after one exposure, first the second motoris switched on for moving a set of copying and transfer material overthe heating device, wherein the passage of the rear edge of the copymaterial in the heating device operates a movable element forming aportion of the said displaceable means comprising a liftable arrangementof conveyor belts and a movable heat shield and wherein after thepassage of the copy material past the heating device the first motor isswitched on and re-reels the web-shaped transfer material back to thestorage reel.

8. A copying machine for processing light-desensitizable transfermaterial and copyingmaterial with the copying material supplied assheets, comprising a housing, a developing unit and an exposure unitpositioned within said housing, said exposure unit including an exposureplate located on the top of said housing and a contact pressure coverpivotally mounted on the top of said housing and arranged to cover saidexposure plate for positioning an original on said exposure plate, adrive for the copying machine for feeding the transfer and copyingmaterials therethrough, wherein the improvement comprises a stack holdercontaining a stack of copying sheets located within said pressure cover,and withdrawing means within said contact pressure cover in contact withthe stack of copying sheets therein for removing sheets individuallyfrom the top of the stack, and drive elements arranged in operativeengagement with both of said drive for the copying machine and saidwithdrawing means when said cover is pivoted away from said exposureplate.

9. A copying machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein the contactpressure cover is mounted on a pivot, a first cover and acting on thetop sheet comprises a withdrawing roller, a second drive wheel for thiswithdrawing roller is provided on the cover, said drive elements areprovided between the withdrawing roller and the second drive wheel sothat it engages during the movement of the cover the said first drivewheel for actuating the withdrawing roller.

10. A copying machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein the housing has aspring abutment for the raised cover and engaging the cover just beforethe second drive wheel engages the first drive wheel.

11. A copying machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein the said firstand second drive wheels are friction wheels.

1. An improved copying machine for processing lightdesensitizabletransfer material and heat sensitive copying material, comprising ahousing having a delivery slot for delivering the copy, wherein theimprovement comprises an exposure plate on the upper side of the housingon which exposure plate an original may be fitted, a contact pressurecover pivotally mounted on said housing for pressing an original againstsaid exposure plate, a storage reel located within said housing andspaced outwardly from one edge of said exposure plate, a take-up reellocated within said housing and spaced outwardly from said exposureplate on the opposite side thereof from said storage reel, said storagereel and take-up reel arranged to receive the transfer material in theform of a continuous web, exposure light sources positioned within saidhousing underneath said exposure plate, a plate-shaped heating memberdisposed within said housing adjacent said take-up reel and arranged forthe passage of transfer and copying materials thereover, and movablydisplaceable means situated within said housing adjacent saidplate-shaped heating member, said movably displaceable means beingarranged for movement relative to said plate-shaped heating member as afunction of the passage of the transfer and copying materials over saidheatIng member.
 2. A copying machine as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe heating member is an upwardly convexly curved heating plate overwhich the transfer and copying materials are guided and wherein saidmovably displaceable means comprises a transport arrangement positionedabove said heating plate and includes a frame containing two rollersarranged so that they rest on the opposite edges of said heating plate,at least one elastic conveyor belt passes over these two rollers and theframe has at the end remote from said exposure plate a pivot, and drivemeans for pivoting the frame about the said pivot, thereby lifting thesaid at least one conveyor belt gradually, starting with the edge of theheating plate facing said exposure plate.
 3. A copying machine as setforth in claim 2, wherein the pivot of the pivoting frame is arrangedconcentrically to a roller, and the frame also comprises spring meansfor tensioning the conveyor belt.
 4. A copying machine as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the heating member is an upwardly convexly curvedheating plate over which the transfer and receiving materials are guidedand said movably displaceable means comprising as a moving element acurved heat shield mounted on a shaft located in the housing, whereinthe curvature of the heat shield corresponds to that of the heatingplate and the shaft is so arranged that the heat shield can be moveddirectly above the heating plate, and further comprising a transportarrangement associated with the heating plate and adapted to beelastically lifted thereoff so that the heat shield can be moved betweensaid transport arrangement and said heating plate.
 5. A copying machineas set forth in claim 4, wherein the take-up reel is mounted on a quillshaft through which the said shaft for the heat shield passes coaxially,and wherein the heating plate and the heat shield are curvedconcentrically to the take-up reel.
 6. A copying machine as set forth inclaim 4, wherein the inside of the heat shield is mirror-plated.
 7. Acopying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first drive motor isconnected to the storage reel and a second drive motor to the take-upreel and switching means are provided in the circuits of the motorswhereby the switching means switch the first and the second drive motoralternatively so that after one exposure, first the second motor isswitched on for moving a set of copying and transfer material over theheating device, wherein the passage of the rear edge of the copymaterial in the heating device operates a movable element forming aportion of the said displaceable means comprising a liftable arrangementof conveyor belts and a movable heat shield and wherein after thepassage of the copy material past the heating device the first motor isswitched on and re-reels the web-shaped transfer material back to thestorage reel.
 8. A copying machine for processing light-desensitizabletransfer material and copying material with the copying materialsupplied as sheets, comprising a housing, a developing unit and anexposure unit positioned within said housing, said exposure unitincluding an exposure plate located on the top of said housing and acontact pressure cover pivotally mounted on the top of said housing andarranged to cover said exposure plate for positioning an original onsaid exposure plate, a drive for the copying machine for feeding thetransfer and copying materials therethrough, wherein the improvementcomprises a stack holder containing a stack of copying sheets locatedwithin said pressure cover, and withdrawing means within said contactpressure cover in contact with the stack of copying sheets therein forremoving sheets individually from the top of the stack, and driveelements arranged in operative engagement with both of said drive forthe copying machine and said withdrawing means when said cover ispivoted away from said exposure plate.
 9. A copying machine as set forthin claim 8, wherein the contact pressure cover is mounted On a pivot, afirst drive wheel is provided adjacent to the pivot and is located inthe housing and continuously driven by the machine drive, thewithdrawing means located in the cover and acting on the top sheetcomprises a withdrawing roller, a second drive wheel for thiswithdrawing roller is provided on the cover, said drive elements areprovided between the withdrawing roller and the second drive wheel sothat it engages during the movement of the cover the said first drivewheel for actuating the withdrawing roller.
 10. A copying machine as setforth in claim 9, wherein the housing has a spring abutment for theraised cover and engaging the cover just before the second drive wheelengages the first drive wheel.
 11. A copying machine as set forth inclaim 9, wherein the said first and second drive wheels are frictionwheels.